RAY CHANDLER, Founder/ President Heart & Soul Concerts
Ray Chandler, a member of the mayor's Gang task force in the early 70s, reached out to many street gangs members. The kids were drawn to Ray’s impressive personality and down to earth appeal. He was able to convince young boys and girls to leave the gang life behind to pursue productive goals. Ray has been a strong mentor to young adults and has helped many of the them enroll in trade schools that offer job training and GED diplomas. Ray literally has saved many lives by steering kids away from illegal activity and pursue their dreams.
Ray knew that the kids needed a way to socialize in a positive way and opened a teen club in the south Bronx called The Black Door. At the club, the kids could enjoy music and dance, as their peers performed the popular music of the time called Hip Hop. It was at this time when he discovered and became < b>manager to rap legends Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.
Realizing the popularity of this new form of music, Ray’s entrepreneurial skills kicked in. He went to the public schools and was able to show students how to generate additional funding for their extra-curricular interests. He taught them how to earn money by putting on talent shows that featured their rap and dance skills. He was given exclusive permission to present shows inside NYC Public chool gymnasiums and auditoriums. Ray hired rap groups and charged a nominal entrance fee. Part of the proceeds earned were donated to NYC Public schools to support sports and music programs.
Ray Chandler also created and hosted many rap clinics for aspiring artists. This project worked out well for the schools, the community, and the kids. Ray is the recipient of many plaques and awards honoring him for his support of the New York City public school system. In 1978, while promoting one of his many concerts at, Harlem based venue, Harlem World,, he met MC Charlierock [Charles Leake], who he hired to promote his event. Shortly after, Ray invited Charles to become his Concert promotions partner. The two promoted many successful Hip Hop concert. In 1994 they formed Heart & Soul Productions, primairlly focused on 70's Classic Soul, 80s and the 90s. The with their combined knowledge and dedication to quality performances, they quickly rose to be a major force in the concert promotion and production circle.Producing shows with the likes of The Whisprs, Stylistics and Temptations to Boyz II Men, Keith Sweat, and Atlantic Starr, just to name a few.
CHARLES LEAKE, President Heart & Soul Concerts
A tenured, talented, and respected concert promoter and former rap artist, Charles Leake, has over three decades of experience in the business. Charles Leake’s career in concert promotions began in 1978. At that time, Charles was known as “MC Charlie Rock”, one of the original members of the rap group the Original Harlem World Crew. The group was named after the world famous nightclub, Harlem World Cultural and Entertainment Complex, formally located on 116th Street & Lenox Avenue in Harlem, NY. Charles developed promotional strategies that helped drive the club to great heights of popularity and fame. In fact, Harlem World was considered the mecca of the Hip-Hop and Rap movement until its closing in 1985.
During these years on the ground floor of the burgeoning new musical genre called Hip Hop, Charles immersed himself into the industry. In the company of up and coming moguls like Russell Simmons and Andre Harrell, Charles refined his natural analytical ability and organizational skills. Charles played a key role in the formation of platinum recording artists Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, and The Force MDs. Shortly thereafter, he crossed paths with another impresario, Ray Chandler, who was at the time the manager of famed rap group, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. The two gentlemen teamed up and founded Heart & Soul Productions and have built it into one of the top concert promotion companies in New York City.
Charles has an unwavering desire to work hard and serve fans of a variety of music types, including his first love, R&B soul classics. With gritty determination and the ability to handle events of multiple genres, a Charles Leake promotion is always a sophisticated affair. He has worked with many top artists in world class venues such as Manhattan Center and Roseland Ballroom in NY; and DeSoto Civic Center in Tennessee to name a few. The long list of performers Charles has worked with includes: The Stylistics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, The Intruders, The Persuaders, The Escorts, The Delfonics, Blue Magic, Meli’sa Morgan, The Chi-Lites, Alyson Williams, Ray, Goodman & Brown, and many more.
Although Charles’ schedule is a busy one, he still finds time to volunteer his services at Body Sculpt of New York’s Children's Health and Fitness Expo by participating in sports clinics, walkathons, and fitness workshops. The Expo focuses on the concerns of childhood obesity, healthy eating, general nutrition, education, and unity of the entire family. Forever young at heart, Charles easily connects with young adults and is willing to share with them his knowledge and experience with entrepreneurship. He stresses dedication, and the importance of serving others in the process of reaching goals, going to the next level, and beyond.
